Miss Universe 2012 participates in march for AIDS awareness

New Delhi: Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Frances Culpo today participated in a march `Walk for Life` to create awareness about HIV/AIDS in the capital here.

Culpo, 21, who started her maiden tour to India yesterday, flagged off the march near India Gate after speaking on the need to make people aware about the risks of HIV/AIDS. "It`s important to start a conversation about AIDS. We have to involve more and more youth in the awareness drive", Culpo said, adding, there should be zero tolerance towards the stigma attached with HIV. "It is very important to do away with the stigma attached with HIV. We all should take pledge for zero tolerance towards that stigma", she added. The march was attended by many including school children. Culpo, who has also been working in US to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, expressed the need to stay informed about risks of the disease. The American beauty is in India for 10 days to promote issues such as celebrating the girl child, women empowerment and AIDS awareness in various states of India. She had also visited Sulabh Gram in Palam Vihar where she interacted with a group of young women, who work as manual scavengers. During her two-hour-long visit to the village she discussed on range of issues relating to women and said concerted efforts are required to rid the society of gender and caste-based discrimination. As a part of charity tour, Culpo will also visit Mumbai and participate in a programme to raise awareness against sex selective abortion. The programme will be attended by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. PTI